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RE: Writing Tips - 5

in #writing7 years ago

This is where the tight and rigid Editor’s hat comes into its own. Take out everything non-essential to the story. Do you need to describe that cat your character passed on the way to confront his enemy? Do you really? Why is that? Is it because you like cats or because you like how you captured the cat’s very essence, the way light glinted off its fur as it sat in the street, ignoring your proximity with the air of nonchalance seen only in cats and hitmen? When does that cat reappear in the story, because if it’s never seen again, you don’t need it. Don’t waste time describing things you don’t need.

I think this is an essential advice for newbies and I find it very annoying when the author goes on to describe insignificant details which don't alter the action of the book. Very good job once again 👍

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Exactly. The writer's job is to engage the reader - nothing more.

Samuel Johnson put it so aptly

A writer only begins a book. The reader finishes it